WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham has died at the age of 79
WWE Hall of Famer “Superstar” Billy Graham has died at the age of 79.
Wrestling legend Ric Flair announced the news on Twitter on Wednesday.
“Superstar Billy Graham just left us. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFLUENCE in my career!” he wrote.
Graham was placed on life support earlier this week – he would have turned 80 on June 7.
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Superstar Billy Graham during Superstar Billy Graham signs his book Tangled Ropes at Borders in Princeton – February 21, 2006 at Borders Books in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. (Bobby Bank/WireImage)
Graham, whose real name is Eldridge Wayne Coleman, was both a bodybuilder and Canadian football player before he turned professional wrestlers in the late 1960s.
He made his World Wrestling Federation debut in 1975 and was a three-time world champion in various wrestling promotions.
Graham’s last fight was in 1987 and he worked as a commentator for the following year.
The wrestler feuded with Vince McMahon after he retired and has been open about steroid use. However, he returned to WWE in 2004, where he was inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame prior to WrestleMania XX. He made several more appearances for the company throughout 2009 before only returning in 2015.
Superstar Billy Graham during Superstar Billy Graham signs his book Tangled Ropes at Borders in Princeton – February 21, 2006 at Borders Books in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. (Bobby Bank/WireImage)
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Health issues had plagued Graham for years – he received a liver transplant in 2002 but was diagnosed with stage III liver disease and cirrhosis in 2012. His toes were amputated in August and he was hospitalized in January with an ear and skull infection.
The last update to Graham’s GoFundMe came in April:
“It has now been four months since Wayne has not been home, he has been either in rehab or in the hospital. Due to ongoing problems from his lack of appetite, he has now lost 80 pounds and has continued to battle extreme illness ever since. “Weakness,” the April 26 update read. “The osteomyelitis infection in his ears, skull and sinus cavity remains his biggest challenge. He’s on strong intravenous antibiotics three times a day for treatment, and the infectious disease doctor says he needs to continue taking them for at least three more months.” He is currently completely deaf as a result of this infection. We pray that this is only temporary and will improve as the infection is treated. He also suffered at times from kidney problems and was on dialysis. On top of that, Billy has a heart and lung problems, wounds from being in bed for 4 months and depression.
Superstar Billy Graham during WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, USA. (KMazur/WireImage)
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Graham has influenced the likes of Hulk Hogan, Scott Steiner, Jesse Ventura, Triple H and Rick Flair.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.